A Palestine Arab Revolt, Second World War service and Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Group awarded to Corporal later Warrant Officer F.H. Jago, Royal Air Force who had seen service during the Arab Revolt in Palestine, during the Second World War and after.
Group of 4: General Service Medal 1918-1962, GVIR 1st type, 1 Clasp: Palestine; (590320 CPL. F.H. JAGO. RA.F.) Defence Medal; War Medal; Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVIR 2nd type bust; (W/O F.H. JAGO. (590320) R.A.F.)
Condition: minor contact wear to GSM, Good Very Fine
Francis Howard Jago was born on 11th October 1912 in Devonport, Devon, the son of Frank Augustine (alternatively Augustus) Jago and Ethel Maud Jago (nee Henning). His father was a 1st Writer who subsequently became a Chief Writer in the Royal Navy, as was his grandfather. His mother, the daughter of a naval pensioner, worked as a shop assistant in a stationary store.
When Francis was just 8 years old his father, who retired from the Navy on 21st December 1918, died of Pneumonia on 11th August 1921 at the Royal Infirmary, Bristol. He left an estate of £222 6s to his widowed wife, who was also considered for a survivor’s pension from the Royal Navy.
Francis Jago followed in his family profession and joined the ranks of the Royal Air Force as an apprentice clerk some time before the war. He would serve in Palestine during the Arab Revolt.
During the first quarter of 1939, Francis H. Jago married Yafa Altshuler in Bury St. Edmunds a 21 year old student from Palestine. She had arrived in Plymouth on 23rd February 1939 as a passenger aboard the S.S. Carthage, a P & O Steam Navigation liner. Given her surname it is likely Yafa had emigrated to Palestine from Germany to escape persecution under the Nazis.
The 1939 Register lists the couple living at 36 Owthorpe Grove, Nottingham with Francis’ now widowed 52 year old mother, who listed herself as a housekeeper and his sister, an embroidery machinist. Francis Jago is listed as Sergeant on leave No. 590320, R.A.F.’
Classified as a Class ‘F’ Reservist he would continue his active service with the Royal Air Force during World War 2, attaining the senior-most enlisted rank of Warrant Officer on 1st September 1941. He would be living in Grimes Hill, Wythall by the time of the completion of the 1945-46 Electoral Roll.
He would be awarded the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving as a Warrant Officer sometime after 1948 and before 1952.
Francis Jago died on 8th February 1990, aged 77.
